Taking action

The rPET flat bottle is back and better than ever!

Head of Wine Sustainability Simon Mason explains how we overcame logistical challenges to reintroduce rPET bottles and how their environmental impact has improved since our trial.

rPET plastic bottles

Last year, we conducted a trial of lower carbon alternatives to glass bottles as a first step towards reducing the 31% of our carbon emissions that is accounted for by glass bottles – and some of the 15% of emissions from bringing wine from around the world to Stevenage. This followed an independent study into the various formats commercially available at the time. Alongside the Bag-in-Box format, 75cl recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles came out as one of the better options for reducing the carbon impact of packaging.

Since the initial trial further improvements have been made to PET bottles and we have worked on some of the logistical challenges that this new format presented within our supply chain.

rPET bottles are back – better and lower carbon than ever!

  • 100% recycled plastic bottle. Bottle and cap 100% recyclable
  • Bottles for the two whites in the range are now made from – collected near oceans to prevent it getting into the sea
  • Streamlined logistics – fewer road journeys and the wine is transported in carbon-efficient bulk for much of the journey
  • Lightweight bottles – 63g vs an average 453g for glass, meaning big carbon savings in shipping
  • Advanced oxygen scavenging barrier technology that allows for a good shelf life

>> Shop our new rPET selection

So is PET really a better option for the environment than the glass bottle?

It’s not quite as simple as that – but in some ways, yes. Our packaging report showed that rPET bottles have a significantly lower carbon footprint than single-use glass bottles; they’re less energy-intensive to make, smaller and less breakable than glass so can be packed more tightly, and of course significantly lighter (63g compared to an average of 453g for glass bottles).  

‘Although rPET might sound controversial, with today’s technology and in the absence of a proper system in the UK to collect and reuse glass bottles, the recycled plastic bottle is a good option, with a lower-carbon footprint than glass and can be recycled kerbside at home.

 ‘While we recognise there is a plastic pollution problem, it is not necessarily plastic itself that is the problem, rather it is what we do with it. This is why we are taking a practical approach; working with initiatives such as Prevented Ocean Plastic – seeing its benefit in our efforts on climate change, rather than taking a black-or-white stance that all plastics are bad.’

- Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact

Our trial

Before committing fully to our chosen lower-carbon formats, we wanted to ensure that as well as the carbon savings, we were happy with the wine quality in the packaging selected. We also wanted to gather member feedback and views on the packaging and to understand how the different formats might fit in with the ways that members enjoy wine.  In January 2024 we published the results of the Alternative Packaging Trial which, in short, was a success. Our buyers were happy with the quality of wine in the PET bottles and we were reassured that a conservative 12-month shelf life is realistic. Our member survey suggested members were happy to make repeat purchases of wine:

To help us answer some of the other questions posed in the trial, we sent members a survey to find out what they they thought of these two glass-free packaging formats. We were encouraged by the results, which are taken from over 1,300 responses:

  • 79% were satisfied with their purchase of a glass-free format.
  • 70% saw it as good value for money, with just over 72% satisfied with the quality of the wine from glass-free.
  • Over 90% are likely to repurchase glass-free formats.

86% are willing to try other wines in the glass-free range, and 80% will recommend to family and friends.

What now?

In our update, we stated it was our aim to bring back the rPET bottles and now, having worked closely with wine suppliers, possible bottlers and the producers of the recycled PET bottle, Packamama, we have added a permanent rPET option to four of our most popular wines:

All are on sale at a slightly lower price than the 75cl glass equivalent.

Are the bottles the same as those in the previous trial?

As before, the flat bottles are produced from 100% recycled PET. The bottles, along with the caps and labels are all fully recyclable at home and collected by 99% of UK local authorities in kerbside recycling.  For the first time, the closures now make use of new tethered caps which will ensure all of the packaging reaches the recycling centre.

The flat design and light weight compared to glass (63g vs glass average of 453g) of the bottle means significant carbon emissions savings can be made in relation to production, transport and recycling. For example, a standard pallet can hold 100 cases of these rPET bottles as opposed to 48 to 56 cases of standard glass bottles. This has already saved one entire lorry journey from Antwerp to Stevenage for our first delivery of wine.

The white wines are packed in colourless (flint) bottles. New for 2024, these are made from Prevented Ocean Plastic; a high quality, food grade recycled PET material. The material is categorised as ocean-bound plastic, meaning that it has been found within a 50km distance of an ocean coastline, and would have been at high risk of ending up in our oceans if it had not been collected for recycling.  You can find out more about Prevented Ocean Plastic here - Prevented Ocean Plastic - Your Better Plastic Choice

Unlike glass, the colourless rPET bottles also have a UV inhibitor added that protects the wine from light strike. This is a problem where UV rays react with components of the wine and lead to unpleasant sulphur aromas such as eggs or rotten cabbage. Given that one of the great uses for these rPET bottles is drinking outdoors at festivals or on picnics, this added UV protection should prove useful.

The red wines are packed in green bottles and both these and the colourless bottles have an advanced oxygen scavenging barrier technology that allows for a good shelf life for the wine – although The Wine Society recommend drinking within 12 months of purchase.

The labels are specially designed to work with rPET bottles and the recycling process and use specially designed adhesive to maintain the quality of the recycled PET.

The logistics

We have worked hard to reduce the amount of transport needed to bring these wines from winemaker to The Wine Society. All four wines are made in the Burgundy region before being shipped in bulk 1,000-litre containers to Antwerp where they were bottled and labelled before onward shipping direct to Stevenage. This has involved considerably fewer road journeys than for our trial, with the wine transported in carbon efficient bulk for much of the journey.

The next challenge we want to address is the packaging of these rPET bottles and our Bag-in-Box range for the journey from Wine Society to our members. Both formats present opportunities to reduce the amount of cardboard used but given we have been focused on selling wine in fairly uniform glass bottles for 150 years, it will take a bit of time to work out efficient processes to deal with the various shapes and sizes of lower-carbon options. Be assured it is at the top of the list for us to address.

>> Browse our range of wines in Bag-in-Box and rPET bottles

>> More questions on plastic bottles?

Simon Mason

Head of Wine Sustainability & Due Diligence

Simon Mason

Simon has been at The Society for more than a decade, heading our Tastings Team before moving into our Buying Department. Now Head of Wine Sustainability & Due Diligence, Simon works with our suppliers to encourage and accelerate collaboration and improving sustainability throughout our wine supply chain.

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